Kids Onboard

Children need to see well to learn. And since young people inevitably break or lose their glasses, The Augie Fund and Prevent Blindness Northern California are partnering to provide replacements for children from families in need.

“The partnership with The Augie Fund makes a second pair of glasses possible for children likely to struggle along without them,” says Seth Schalet, executive director of Prevent Blindness Northern California. “We’re very excited to extend our support for these children.”

Young children are excited to see the Eye Bus pull up at their preschool or Head Start site. Curiosity motivates them to get on board for vision screening – a positive early experience of caring for their health.

Serving Families in Need

The Augie Fund offers prescription glasses with zero red tape for children from low-income families at UCSF Ophthalmology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General, and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. The fund was launched after young Augie Wintroub-Hansen began amblyopia treatment at UCSF. His family realized that the high cost of specialized glasses and contact lenses could challenge many families.

Early Intervention Aids Success

The new partnership ensures that low-income preschoolers can benefit from optimal vision and the academic achievement that comes with it. The See Well to Learn Eye Bus program at Prevent Blindness Northern California provides comprehensive support for healthy sight, including ongoing follow-up.The nonprofit plans to expand its successful program, which screened 8,300 Bay Area children last year.